Foundation garment



Aprll 6, l193'7. H. WIPPERMAN FOUNDATION- GVARMENT Filed May 15, 193e vENToR 'HHIHU ATTORNEYS Patented Apr.- 6, 1937 luNrrl-:D "STATES n 2,076,169- n FOUNDATION GARMENT Hildegard Wipperman; Chicago,

The H. W. Gossard Co.,

poration of Delaware lll., assignor to Chicago, Ill., a cor- Application May 13, 1936, Serial No. 79,421

3Glaims.

This invention relates to foundation garmentsi'or women and particularly to garments of the type employing stiening means or bones to con- Atrol and support the ligure. 5 The principal object of the invention is to provide a foundation garment of the above type which combines stiffness and support with exibility and freedom of movement to the wearer.`

In the preferred form of my invention the stiffening means or bones are applied to a portion of a garment which is adapted to stretch vertically, or both vertically and horizontally, in accordance with bending movements of the body. 'Ihe stiffening members are preferably held in a yfloating panel which is securd lto the upper and lower edges of the garment by elastic tapes, these tapes passing loosely through the panel and thereby permitting 'it to slide on the tapes. When the elastic body portion of the garment is stretched, the elastictapes running through the stiffened panel also stretch, but the panel itself will remain in a fixed position without constraining the rest of the garment.

- These and other features and advantages of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a girdle embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the inner backA portion of the garment, showing a control panel constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the control panel, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectionof the boning taken 0n. une 0f Eg. 2.

certain specic terms are used forconvenience in referring to various details of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are to be given as broad an interpretation as the'state of the art will permit.

The drawing kshows the invention as applied to a maternity corset or girdle having a rear section I of material capable of stretching vertically and inelastic in a horizontal direction. Side sections 2 are joined to the rear section as by seams 3, these side sections being made of material capable of stretching horizontally so as to fit the garment tothe wearer and mold and support the figure. In the form illustrated the garment has a front section 4, preferably inelastic, secured tothe side sections 2 by lacings 5 so as to permit necessary adjustments to be made. Shields 6 are positioned between the side sections 2 and the front section 4 to prevent the lacings 5 from` coming in contact.

In the following description and in theclaims,

with the body of the wearer. Suitable fastening means, such as a slide fastener 1, may be provided in the front section 4 for use in/putting the garment on and off. Stiffening bones or busks 8 may be secured in pockets 9 formed in the front section 4 for providing rigidity and support. Garters I0 may be attached to the lower edge of the garment in the usual manner.

Support for the back of the body is provided, according to my invention, by a floating inner panel II made of inelastic` material and containing vertical pockets I2 in which bones or busks I3l are secured. Panel II may be composed of a.

plurality of layers of lmaterial having vertical strips sewed thereto to form the pockets I2v and having vertical loops or passages I4 formed adjalcent the two side edges through which elasticl tapes I5 pass. The tapes I5 are securedas by vstitching to the top and bottom edges of the rear section I of the garment and the control panel II is freely slidable on these tapes.

In the construction illustrated the oating panel II remains in the desired adjusted position at the back of the wearer while the rear section I of the garment is free to stretch vertically in accordance with bodily movements. The elastic tapes I5 stretch with the rear section I and permit the panel I I to remain in place without constraining the movement of the rest of the garment. The panel II thus iloatswith respect to the remainder of the garment while at the same time providing the required support.

'I'he floating control panel II has been shown as embodied in a particular type of garment for purposes of illustration only. The panel may also be incorporated in various other types .of garments and may be located at the front when desired.` Furthermore, the construction 'of the floating panel and of the support for the bones or busks may be varied while retaining the essential characteristics thereof. The construction shown, however, is preferred because it provides a stiff supporting surface which does not move or shift over the body of the wearer while the garment itself is free to move. or stretch as may be required.

The invention isv only to be limited in accordance with the following claims when `interpreted in view of the prior The invention claimed is: y

1. A foundation garment for women comprising a girdle having an elastic section adapted to stretch in accordance with bending vmovements of tlie,body, elastic tapes secured to said elastic section at .the interior of the ,garment and adapted to stretch with said elastic section. and a control panel slidably carried by said tapes `and adapted thereby to' remain in ilxed relationship to the body independently o! said bending movements. y l

2. A foundation garment for women comprising a girdle having an elastic section adapted to stretch in a vertical direction in accordance with bending movements of the body, elastic tapes secured to the interior of thegarment adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, and a stiiened control panel slidably carried by said tapes and loosely through said loops to hold said panel in lo oating relationship to said elastic section.

HILDEGARD WIPPERMAN. 

